Fans can now enjoy one of the best movie marathons possible, as all three parts of acclaimed director Christopher Nolan's Batman films have just been added to Netflix. As of May 7, users can stream Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises on the platform.
Epic in both total run time, scale, and box office takings, the trilogy is ranked as the fourth best movie trilogy ever made according to Metacritic scores. It sits behind only The Lord of the Rings, The Godfather, and the original Star Wars trilogies.
The Beginning of a Legend
Based on the beloved DC comics, Batman Begins was released in 2005 and marked the first film focusing on the character since 1997's Batman and Robin, which starred George Clooney and was panned by critics and fans alike. Nolan's entry introduced a grittier, more realistic Batman and Gotham City, along with the character's origins—a decision that proved hugely successful. Fans even embraced the creation of a new love interest, Rachel, originally played by Katie Holmes and later recast with Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Christian Bale, relatively unknown at the time, plays Bruce Wayne, aka Batman. He is joined across the trilogy by Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy, and Gary Oldman, who appears in all three films as Jim Gordon.
Batman Begins sees Bruce Wayne travel and train in martial arts with the mysterious League of Shadows after his parents' murder, only to return home when the group plots to destroy Gotham. One fan called it "the best origin story movie of all time," while another praised it as "a grounded, serious origin story that shows how Bruce becomes Batman, not just why. It's realistic, emotional, and beautifully structured."
The Dark Knight: A Masterpiece
Its 2008 sequel, The Dark Knight, is considered one of the best sequels ever made and boasts the highest rating of the three films on Rotten Tomatoes at 94%. The film introduces the Joker, a criminal who throws Gotham into chaos, forcing Batman to tread a fine line between heroism and vigilantism.
Heath Ledger delivered a career-defining performance as the Joker. He sadly died at age 28 before the film's release but was posthumously awarded an Oscar for his unforgettable portrayal. The film is regarded as a must-see. One fan said: "Masterpiece of a film. Heath Ledger is iconic and delivers masterclass acting." Another simply stated: "The best superhero film ever created." A third added: "One of the greatest and most unforgettable films ever made—this is the kind of cinematic greatness you rarely get to see."
The Epic Conclusion
2012's The Dark Knight Rises rounds out the trilogy with an epic finale. Set eight years after the last film, Batman has sacrificed everything and no longer stalks the streets of Gotham. However, the arrival of a cunning cat burglar (Catwoman, played by Anne Hathaway) and a merciless figure named Bane (Tom Hardy) force Batman out of exile. Joseph Gordon-Levitt also appears in a role that fans still debate years later. While not as celebrated as its predecessor, it is marked as a fitting conclusion.
One person posted online: "A memorable epic with a huge scale. A fitting conclusion to a monumental trilogy." Another noted: "Christopher Nolan's Batman Trilogy is the best thing ever happened to Hollywood. The entire movie keeps you busy watching it and not to blink your eyes."
Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises are now streaming on Netflix and HBO Max.
